How do you care for a patient with nephrotic syndrome?
How do you care for a patient with nephrotic syndrome?
Treatment
- Blood pressure medications. Drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce blood pressure and the amount of protein released in urine.
- Water pills (diuretics).
- Cholesterol-reducing medications.
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants).
- Immune system-suppressing medications.
What is a good diet for nephrotic syndrome patients?
A healthy diet for Nephrotic Syndrome patients consists of low salt, low fat, and low cholesterol, with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables. NOTE: The amount of protein and fluid a patient with Nephrotic Syndrome should have depends on the patient’s current condition, age, and weight.
How do you monitor nephrotic syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome can usually be diagnosed after dipping a dipstick into a urine sample. If there are large amounts of protein in a person’s urine, there will be a colour change on the stick. A blood test showing a low level of a protein called albumin will confirm the diagnosis.
What happens when a person has nephrotic syndrome?
In nephrotic syndrome the urine contains large amounts of protein. What happens is that filters in the kidneys (the glomeruli) become ‘leaky’ and protein, instead of remaining in the blood, leaks out into the urine. Protein in the urine is called proteinuria.
What kind of medication do you take for nephrotic syndrome?
If nephrotic syndrome persists, treatment is needed to lower blood cholesterol. Most people are initially treated with a cholesterol-lowering medication called a statin. (See “Patient education: High cholesterol and lipids (Beyond the Basics)” .)
When do you need a kidney biopsy for nephrotic syndrome?
Renal biopsy — Renal (kidney) biopsy is the standard procedure for determining the underlying cause of nephrotic syndrome when a cause cannot be identified by noninvasive laboratory testing. (See “Patient education: Renal (kidney) biopsy (Beyond the Basics)”.)
How does nephrotic syndrome cause proteinuria in urine?
In nephrotic syndrome the urine contains large amounts of protein. What happens is that filters in the kidneys (the glomeruli) become ‘leaky’ and protein, instead of remaining in the blood, leaks out into the urine. Protein in the urine is called proteinuria. The other key features of nephrotic syndrome are:
